The first Lincoln School is shown in the background on the left. The “manifest desire” for a public library stirred early in Lewistown, Montana. In January 1897, two full years prior to Lewistown’s incorporation, Frank E. Smith, a local attorney,...

2nd floor of the Library. Interior of the Library. The “manifest desire” for a public library stirred early in Lewistown, Montana. In January 1897, two full years prior to Lewistown’s incorporation, Frank E. Smith, a local attorney, delivered a...

Pulling tools at 56 Petroleum Co. well.Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the...

Mid-Northern well and storage tanks.Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the...

Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at extremely shallow depths...

Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at extremely shallow depths...

Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom.The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at extremely shallow depths...

A lake of oil at Franz #2. Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude...

Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at extremely shallow depths...

Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom.The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at extremely shallow depths...

Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at extremely shallow depths...

Oil train in the background. Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom.The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude...

Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at extremely shallow depths...

Ten spot oil well. Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at...

Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom.The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at extremely shallow depths...

Homestake cook shack. Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom.The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at...

Homestake wells #1 and #2. Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude...

Hoover-Schwartz well. Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at...

Great Western oil well. Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at...

Main Street Frantztown. Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at...

Homestake #1 and #2 wells. Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude...

Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at extremely shallow depths...

Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at extremely shallow depths...

Miles City well. Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at...

Montacal oil well. Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at...

custer Oil and Gas Co. Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at...

Ritter-Lawson well. Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at...

Cat Creek #1 well. Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom.The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at...

Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom.The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at extremely shallow depths...

Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at extremely shallow depths...

McCarthy well. Oil was discovered numerous times in Montana prior to 1919, but it wasn't until Frantz Oil Corp. struck "black gold" in December 1919 that the industry began to boom. The Denver-based company found the high-quality crude at extremely...

Santiago Gold Mine. Between the Kendall and Barnes-King Development company's properties was the Santiago mine which was filed upon in 1898. In 1908 the claims in this group, six in number, were sold to the North Moccasin Gold Mining company....

The “manifest desire” for a public library stirred early in Lewistown, Montana. In January 1897, two full years prior to Lewistown’s incorporation, Frank E. Smith, a local attorney, delivered a lecture and during its course he “deviated from his...

The “manifest desire” for a public library stirred early in Lewistown, Montana. In January 1897, two full years prior to Lewistown’s incorporation, Frank E. Smith, a local attorney, delivered a lecture and during its course he “deviated from his...

View of the SW corner of 7th Ave South. Laying of the cornerstone for the library. The “manifest desire” for a public library stirred early in Lewistown, Montana. In January 1897, two full years prior to Lewistown’s incorporation, Frank E. Smith, a...

Lincoln School in the background (left side). The manifest desire” for a public library stirred early in Lewistown, Montana. In January 1897, two full years prior to Lewistown’s incorporation, Frank E. Smith, a local attorney, delivered a lecture...

The “manifest desire” for a public library stirred early in Lewistown, Montana. In January 1897, two full years prior to Lewistown’s incorporation, Frank E. Smith, a local attorney, delivered a lecture and during its course he “deviated from his...

The “manifest desire” for a public library stirred early in Lewistown, Montana. In January 1897, two full years prior to Lewistown’s incorporation, Frank E. Smith, a local attorney, delivered a lecture and during its course he “deviated from his...

The “manifest desire” for a public library stirred early in Lewistown, Montana. In January 1897, two full years prior to Lewistown’s incorporation, Frank E. Smith, a local attorney, delivered a lecture and during its course he “deviated from his...

The “manifest desire” for a public library stirred early in Lewistown, Montana. In January 1897, two full years prior to Lewistown’s incorporation, Frank E. Smith, a local attorney, delivered a lecture and during its course he “deviated from his...

View of the Library and the Blackford house. The “manifest desire” for a public library stirred early in Lewistown, Montana. In January 1897, two full years prior to Lewistown’s incorporation, Frank E. Smith, a local attorney, delivered a lecture...

The “manifest desire” for a public library stirred early in Lewistown, Montana. In January 1897, two full years prior to Lewistown’s incorporation, Frank E. Smith, a local attorney, delivered a lecture and during its course he “deviated from his...

The “manifest desire” for a public library stirred early in Lewistown, Montana. In January 1897, two full years prior to Lewistown’s incorporation, Frank E. Smith, a local attorney, delivered a lecture and during its course he “deviated from his...

Looking west down Montana Street. Prior to the big fire of 1905. Circa 1890's. “Skookum Joe” Anderson, David Jones, Frank “Pony” McPartland, J. R. Kemper, C. Snow and others, were credited with the discovery of the mines of the Maiden District. In...